For more than 100 years, the Lincoln Wheat Cent , often just called the "wheat penny," has sparked the interest of collectors — partially because of their rarity and partially because of their historic roots.

But the interest has also helped drive its value — so instead of being worth just 1 cent, they can value up to tens of thousands of dollars — depending on where you're cashing in.

If you go to your local supermarket and use a wheat penny to buy a pack of gum, then you can't expect to get more than a penny's worth for your coin.

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However, if you take it to a coin dealer, you could get more.

History of the Lincoln Wheat Cent

Wheat pennies were first introduced in 1909 to celebrate former President Abraham Lincoln's 100th birthday. It was minted between 1909 and 1958 and was the first American coin to sport a picture of a U.S. president.

A profile of Lincoln's face was stamped on the front with two wheat stalks on the back.

However, its run only lasted a few decades before it was redesigned to replace the wheat stalks with something else.

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In 1959, the penny was updated to feature the Lincoln Memorial on the back — ending the wheat penny-era.

Determining its worth

To know if your coin is worth more than face value, you'll need to start by checking its date, mintmark, then see if it has any unusual characteristics or errors.

According to Westcoasthcc's value of wheat pennies "Dream Guide," the value of wheat pennies vary greatly and continue to change.

Shown below is a chart created by Westcoasthcc , outlining price changes over the past 10 years and the trend behind it:

In 2025, a "common wheat penny," still in circulation may only fetch 30 cents to $1.50, while uncirculated wheat pennies in mint condition may get you somewhere between $6 and $12.

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But coins that might get you somewhere between $800 and $5,000 are the more rare varieties, meaning they are likely older and have misprints.